New Delhi — In a landmark move to democratize access to public information, India’s leading public broadcasters—Doordarshan, All India Radio (Akashvani), and the Press Information Bureau (PIB)—have opened their extensive content libraries to digital creators, offering free or low-cost usage rights. The initiative follows mounting criticism over copyright practices by private news agency Asian News International (ANI), which has drawn backlash from independent creators.
 |
| Prasar Bharti Office | PTI |
Prasar Bharati, which oversees Doordarshan and Akashvani, confirmed that archival footage, news clips, documentaries, and explainer videos are now freely accessible across platforms such as YouTube and social media. These resources are cleared for unrestricted public use.
As part of the initiative, Prasar Bharati’s digital portal PBShabd was launched as a central hub, offering 24/7 access to verified news, audio, video content, and articles in multiple Indian languages and categories. The PIB echoed the development, highlighting its potential to provide reliable, copyright-safe material for creators and digital journalists.
In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Akashvani stated that its content—including short films, explainers, and documentaries across 50 categories in 15 languages—is now available for use without any copyright restrictions.
Copyright Dispute with ANI
The government’s move comes amid an ongoing controversy involving ANI and several YouTubers. Prominent content creator Mohak Mangal recently disclosed that ANI issued copyright strikes on his videos for using clips as short as 9 and 11 seconds in coverage related to the Kolkata rape case and “Operation Sindoor.” According to Mangal, ANI later demanded a licensing fee or financial penalty to lift the strikes.
Other creators, including Rajat Pawar, have made similar claims. Pawar alleged that ANI offered to withdraw copyright strikes only after he agreed to a licensing arrangement costing ₹18 lakh per year—or face the takedown of his YouTube channel.
The dispute has escalated to the Delhi High Court, where ANI has filed a defamation suit against Mangal, accusing him of spreading misinformation. On Thursday, the court directed Mangal to remove specific segments from his videos that ANI claimed were defamatory.
A Welcome Shift for Independent Media
The government’s decision is being welcomed by content creators as a step toward transparency and support for independent journalism. By providing copyright-free access to authentic news footage and archival content, public broadcasters are positioning themselves as open and creator-friendly sources—offering a viable alternative to restrictive private licensing models.
Post a Comment